It has not been a very impressive month for the Bucs as one has to go all the way back to October 13th since they last entered the win column. Sunday afternoon was an opportune chance to do so, facing a 2-8 Giants squad that recently released its starting quarterback.

Tampa Bay was in complete control and kept their foot on the gas en route to a 30-7 win. It was a game that certainly increased team morale, and this is what was most impressive from the convincing victory.

Bucs’ Opening Offensive Drive

This post-game column typically highlights impressive players, but it is worth mentioning the Bucs’ first drive to open the game. It was a 14-play, 70-yard drive that took 8:23 off the clock in the first quarter and established the momentum Tampa Bay would hold for the rest of the game.

It was a drive kept alive thanks to some key third-down plays made by Jalen McMillan and Rachaad White, as well as a fourth-and-1 run by Sean Tucker. Liam Coen utilized all three of his running backs in ways that maximized their skillsets, including on Tucker’s 1-yard touchdown run where Coen inserted center Robert Hainsey and defensive tackle Vita Vea to block and punch it in.

It was a well-called opening drive that deserves acknowledging.

RB Bucky Irving

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: USA Today

Sunday afternoon was a battle between the Bucs and Giants and a chance to see the NFL’s two best rookie running backs squaring off in Bucky Irving and Tyrone Tracy Jr. While Tracy has had bigger games than Irving this season after claiming the starting spot from Devin Singletary, it was Tampa Bay’s burgeoning back who stole the show in Week 12.

Irving was a playmaker in the receiving game, hauling in six receptions for a career-high 64 receiving yards, with two of his catches getting the offense down to the 1-yard line. Whether he is catching the ball or getting the handoff, he is one slippery guy to bring down.

That was evident on a 56-yard run in the fourth quarter, where he got some help from leading blocker Baker Mayfield as he found plenty of daylight.

Irving’s calling card is making defenders miss and he did that often. On the day, he had 151 scrimmage yards and his fifth rushing touchdown of the season, which leads Tracy and all rookie running backs. Safe to say general manager Jason Licht finally hit on drafting some backfield talent with Irving and Rachaad White serving as a dynamic duo.

QB Baker Mayfield

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

With Mike Evans back in the fold, it allowed Baker Mayfield to play more confidently and efficiently against the Giants. Mayfield distributed the ball to everyone from Evans and Bucky Irving to his remaining cast of wide receivers and tight ends. In the first half alone, he was 19 of 23 for 230 passing yards and finished the game 24 of 30 for 294 passing yards.

No touchdown passes?

No problem.

He made up for it with an incredible 10-yard touchdown run and mocked the fans with his celebration to close the first half, with many New York fans filing for the exits after. Mayfield was dialed in and took care of the football extremely well, even recovering Sean Tucker’s goal-line fumble in the second quarter to ensure the drive ended with some points. The one hiccup was a late fumble on a botched handoff, though the game was already well in hand.

The passing game was a cause for concern coming in based on its performance against the 49ers, a game where Mayfield threw for just 116 passing yards. He got back on track and found four different players for receptions of 20 or more yards in the first half alone. He turned it around as the offense was in control from the opening kickoff.

WR Mike Evans

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

The impact of Mike Evans cannot be understated. Evans opened up the rest of the offense and created opportunities for other wide receivers to make plays.

He also made a few himself.

In his first game since Week 7, he picked up right where he left off with a five-catch, 68-yard performance that included a 26-yard catch. While he did not score a touchdown, he was critical in making it a 30-0 game in the third quarter. Evans drew a defensive pass interference call on cornerback Adoree’ Jackson in the endzone, a 21-yard swing that allowed Rachaad White to score from a yard out.

M1K3 is back, and the offense is back to its high-scoring ways.

Unexpected Explosive Plays By Unexpected Players

This is an extension of Mike Evans making a return to the field. Baker Mayfield mentioned before the game that Evans coming back would allow for more explosive plays.

“It’s huge, just for the chances – we talk about trying to get explosive plays in and somehow creating that and we’ve tried to be dialing some things up within the scheme,” Mayfield said. “It’s huge to be able to have that threat in one-on-one coverage, to be able to take advantage of it and then when they do want to double cover it, it opens things up for other guys. It’s always a big factor when he’s playing.”

It was a big factor throughout the game, as it opened up the passing lanes and allowed Mayfield to connect with guys like Cade Otton and Rakim Jarrett (30-yard catches), Payne Durham (26-yard catch), and Trey Palmer (18-yard catch) for chunk plays.

The offense is still waiting for another wide receiver to truly step up next to Evans, but they got a big jolt with the return of the best offensive player in team history. That caused a positive ripple effect for other players to get involved.

RG Cody Mauch And The Bucs’ Offensive Line

Without left tackle Tristan Wirfs, the offensive line had arguably its hardest test without their best player. Facing Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Azeez Olujari, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, who just returned from injured reserve, New York had plenty of defensive star power to disrupt the game. There is a reason they came into Sunday’s contest with 36 sacks, the second-most in the league.

The whole group admirably protected Baker Mayfield and did not give up a single sack. In particular, I want to note Cody Mauch’s performance. Mauch regularly got up to the second level laying key blocks and holding his assignments long enough for his running backs to hit them. On Bucky Irving’s second-quarter touchdown run, the second-year right guard had the key block on the outside zone design and cleared the way for Irving to hit paydirt.

In one of their biggest tests this season, the big guys passed it easily.

DT Calijah Kancey

Bucs DTs Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea and Giants QB Tommy DeVito – Photo by: USA Today

Calijah Kancey is amid a second-year breakout that continued on Sunday. Kancey’s first-quarter takedown of Tommy DeVito on third-and-8 extended his sack streak to three games, and he is now up to a career-high five sacks in just six games. Then in the third quarter, he recovered a fumble after Lavonte David forced it out of Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s hands.

His pass-rushing chops are what enticed the Bucs to make him the team’s first-round pick last year, and he has been the perfect defensive tackle to pair with Vita Vea.

DT Vita Vea

Vita Vea is pound-for-pound, one of the best athletes in the NFL.

Vea showed on Sunday that he can line up at fullback and make a key block or overpower and embarrass an opposing center.

Sorry, John Michael Schmitz Jr.

Throughout the afternoon, Vea led the effort in closing the pocket and getting the team’s pass rush going. The sack above was his sixth of the year, which leads the team. He is now just one sack away from surpassing his previous career-high of 6.5 sacks in 2022. At 29 years old, Vita Vea remains at the top of his game and has shown his ability to be a key contributor on both sides of the football.

Maybe, just maybe, the former star high school running back will get a chance to tote the rock at the goal line.

Bucs Pass Rush

Much was made coming into the game about the Giants’ front seven and the challenges they presented. Not only did the Bucs’ offensive line hold up against them, but the defensive trenches made Tommy Devito’s day difficult on the other side. Head coach Todd Bowles dialed up the pressure on the young quarterback, and the pass rush overmatched New York’s offensive line from the start.

Yes, Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea had big games, but other players also contributed. Yaya Diaby had the key fourth-down stop in the second quarter tackling Wan’Dale Robinson and was big in applying pressure, while Anthony Nelson and Antoine Winfield Jr. chipped in sacks.

It was a bounceback game from the entire defense, but the front seven complimented the secondary and did not give up much.